About Chris / gallery representation
Chris is known for her distinctive plein air landscapes and native botanicals, working in watercolors, oils and pastels.
Born 1950 in Pasadena, California, Chris grew up at the foot of the San Gabriel mountains and, in her teens, the San Fernando Valley. She loved exploring on horseback everyday; there was born her love of Nature, writing, and painting. After studies at University of Oregon, UC Santa Barbara, and Santa Barbara Community College, she became a fulltime artist in the early 1990s. Mostly self-taught, Chris’ continuing art education is a lifelong pursuit.
Married in 1999, Chris and artist husband John Iwerks combined conservation and art living on the Gaviota Coast from 2000 to 2013. Together they made lasting contributions as the first preserve managers of Arroyo Hondo Preserve and teaching art classes at Santa Barbara Community College. Now Chris and John live and paint in the Santa Ynez Valley with the Central Coast and Eastern Sierra as enduring favorite subjects. Their artistic journey together is a growing gift.
Chris is a longtime member of the Oak Group, a Santa Barbara based group of preservation minded artists formed in 1986. Her work is featured in permanent installations and collections at Ventura County Art Museum, Wildling Museum of Art & Nature, University of CA Santa Barbara Sedgwick Reserve, Carrizo Plain National Monument, Arroyo Hondo Preserve, and Descanso Botanic Gardens. She is a Signature Member of several national pastel societies and Honorary Lifetime Member of Santa Barbara Art Association.
REPRESENTED BY: Waterhouse Gallery, La Arcada, 1114 State Street #9, Santa Barbara CA 93101 (805) 962-8885
“Painting is the pathway I chose for my life’s work, but it also chose me, my true self in this one life. ”
— Chris Chapman